Friday, 24 February 2017

Scarbados

Met up with Paul at the airfield early doors to have a look at the Shrike, but sadly she had gone AWOL. Storm Doris had abated overnight and it was a lovely, calm sunny morning, the cool air full of the sound of Song Thrushes and Skylarks. It was great to be out, but after an hour our only reward was a small covey of Grey Partridges.

Home to collect the gang and off east to Scarbados. The skies were clear and a light westerly meant it was almost balmy on the beach, well, about 8 degrees.

The kids and dog enjoyed a good scamper about before we got into the wildlife with fine views of the Peregrine pair on the cliffs, the female of which was hungrily devouring a pigeon. Sol loved the gore of it. Several Harbour Porpoises were searching the break looking for bass and the kids got good views. In the harbour, a fine adult Shag was hanging out on some steps, and nearby the lingering Great Northern Diver cruised around.

The diver started feeding after a bit, and shortly brought up a Shore Crab which it shook about to remove the legs before swallowing.

Harder to find was the diminutive Black-necked Grebe, but
after a chippy lunch, we spied the red-eyed fluffball busily feeding
among the boats. It really motored around and took some effort to keep
up with it.

About 20 Turnstones were seeking discarded chips and at
least three sported some fine leg bling.

It is rude to be out east on such a fine early spring day and not pop into Wykeham on the way back, to see what avian monsters are at large. Sure enough, after a bit of patience and a number of sites, I picked up three adult Goshawks (two females and one male) engaged in some serious display. At one point all three were perched up in separate trees, one of which rather clumsily clambered around on the branches, white undertail coverts exploding everywhere. Although the views through the scope were cool, they were just a bit too far for phone scoping, but I gave it a try anyway...

We headed back after a top day. It turned out the Shrike was still present, having been seen near Ebor Trucks at midday.

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At Wheldrake Ings, 2017

Northern Latitude Birding Attitude

About me...

Follow me on Twitter: @birdingdad

If you see anything interesting in the York area, please email me recorder@yorkbirding.org.uk

I am a birder from York, who became a Dad in April 2008 (and again in March 2010). I birded York until 1993 when I went off to UEA in Norwich. After spending some time in Madagascar and Indonesia, I ended up in Cambridgeshire. In May 2009 I moved away from one of the best inland birding patches, Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire, to live in Norfolk. I birded the mid-Yare Valley NNR (Strumpshaw - Buckenham - Cantley) for 18 months, but have now moved back to York, where I'm from.Most of my time is spent on Dad duties and my band, Our Enemies, but when I get chance to go birding, I spend my time tramping round the York area, especially the LDV and Wheldrake Ings, and getting across to Flamborough and Filey from time to time. The rest of the time I try and work on my nature skills, checking out this and that.

I work for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (since 2010) having formerly worked at Norfolk Wildlife Trust (2009-2010) and Beds, Cambs, Northants Wildlife Trust (2001-2009).

I also do a bit of leading/guiding for Yorkshire Coast Nature and Wildlife Travel.

I am on the committee of York Ornithological Club where I am the Bird Recorder for the York Recording Area (see map).

The image at the top of the page is part of a flock of Pomarine Skuas, one of my fave birds, taken on Harris in May 2011.

My old Indybirder website, as reviewed in Birdwatch mag no less!: http://indybirder.tripod.com

UK Pan List Total: 1,346 (at 16 August 2015)

The Rare and Scarce Birds of the York Area 1965 - 2015

Available to buy now from the York Ornithological Club - click the image to visit the YOC website

Great Grey Owl

The best bird I ever saw. Great Grey Owl, Alberta.

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York area birding map (thanks to YOC)

Yank Wigeon

Found at Castle Howard, 12 Feb 16

Green-winged Teal

Found at Wheldrake Ings 20 Dec 15

Green-winged Teal, North Duffield Carrs

Found Jan 15 amongst tonnes of Teal

Dusky Warbler

Found on a guided walk at Flamborough South Landing, October 2013

Short-toed Lark, Aird an Rhunair

We found this mini lark in the machair near the skua watch point, May 2013

Pallid Swift, Flamborough

My first good Yorkshire find since returning to the county, Flamborough Oct 2011

Pectoral Sandpiper, Grafham Water

Mark Hawkes and myself found this Pectoral Sandpiper flying over at Grafham Water, Sept 07, fortunately, it landed on the muddy shore.

Laughing Gull, Grafham Water

Having found Cambridgeshire's first in November 2006, I was shocked to also find the second - this bird, on the dam in June 07

White-rumped Sandpiper, Grafham Water

Cambridgeshire's third and a good find at Grafham Water, in October 2006. This corker flew past with Ringos and Dunlin and landed on the shore in front of me. Corker!

Ring-necked Duck, Grafham Water

My first decent 'find' at GW, this corking drake was with the Tufties on the sludge lagoons on a sunny April morning.

Blue Rock Thrush, Porthgwarra

Ten years on from the shrike and we were back in Cornwall. Dunc proclaimed I have just seen a blue bird! And then this popped up. Britain's third and a first for mainland Cornwall. This isn't a photo of the bird.

Isabelline Shrike, Zennor

The first good bird I was involved in finding, with my folks, and old mate Duncan Poyser, at Zennor in October 1989. Cornwall's first record. This isn't a photo of the actual bird.